A: Hey there! Guess what? They found a super cool thing!
B: Oh, do tell! What is it this time?

A: So, remember that old butterfly they discovered in Japan back in '88? Well, they've finally figured out it's actually a new kind of butterfly!
B: Whoa, really? That's amazing! And what makes it special?

A: It's huge! With a 84mm wing span, it's the biggest butterfly fossil ever found! Plus, it helps us understand how butterflies evolved.
B: Incredible! I didn't know butterfly fossils could be so important. So, where was this one found again?

A: In a 2.5 million-year-old layer in Shinonsen Town, Hyogo Prefecture. It's been kept at a local museum all these years.
B: That's neat! How did they figure out it was new species then?

A: They used a fancy microscope to examine its wings and body parts. Turns out, it had some unique characteristics that set it apart from other butterflies.
B: Wow, I can't believe something so fragile like a butterfly could be preserved for so long!

A: Yeah, you're right. Butterfly fossils are rare because their bodies and wings aren't very sturdy and tend to decompose quickly. But this one somehow made it through!
B: It's incredible! So, what happened to this species? Is it still around in Japan?

A: Nope, sadly it's gone extinct. But a related species exists in Southeast Asia's subtropical and tropical zones.
B: That's too bad, but still super interesting! So, what do they plan to do with this discovery now?

A: They say this finding is incredibly valuable for understanding butterfly evolution. It's a rare find worldwide, so every bit of info helps!
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A fossil of a butterfly now believed extinct that was discovered in western Japan 37 years ago has been identified as that of a new species of the insect.



With an estimated wing span of 84 millimeters, it is also believed to be the largest butterfly fossil in the world, drawing attention as a valuable record for tracing the evolution of butterflies.



The finding by a team of Japanese researchers was published in the journal Paleontological Research earlier this month.



The specimen was found in 1988 in Shinonsen Town in Hyogo Prefecture from a 2.5 million-year-old stratum and has since been kept at a local museum.



The team, led by Aiba Hiroaki, a teacher at Keio Yokohama Elementary School near Tokyo, examined the fossil with a high-performance microscope. The researchers determined it was that of a new variety of butterfly based on wing and abdomen characteristics.



The researchers said butterfly fossils are extremely rare because the insect's bodies and wings are fragile and buoyant, making them less likely to be preserved as fossils compared with plants and shells.



The species, no longer found in Japan, is believed to have gone extinct. The researchers said it belongs to the Tacola genus. A related species in the group is known to exist in subtropical and tropical zones in Southeast Asia.



Aiba said that while fossils serve as proof in considering the evolution of creatures, butterfly fossils are extremely rare and limited worldwide. He added that the discovery of the world's largest butterfly fossil is scientifically highly valuable.